The "July National Charter 2025" has emerged as a landmark document shaped by the unprecedented mass uprising of July 2024, in which thousands of citizens, predominantly students, took to the streets demanding justice, good governance, and the restoration of democracy.
The movement, which resulted in over a thousand deaths and many more injuries, has been widely recognized as a turning point in Bangladesh’s political history.
In response to this historic moment, the National Consensus Commission, under the supervision of interim Prime Minister Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has drafted a national charter aimed at reforming key state institutions and rebuilding democratic accountability.
On Monday afternoon, the commission sent a preliminary draft of the charter to political parties for review and feedback.
This draft includes the background of the July movement, the formation and responsibilities of the Reform Commission and the Consensus Commission, as well as a declaration of intent to implement the reforms.
According to the commission’s vice-chair, Professor Ali Riaz, the draft charter is not yet final. He emphasized that the sections already included are open for feedback, and the reform recommendations that achieve political consensus will be incorporated after further dialogue.
The final version will reflect shared commitments agreed upon by all participating parties.
The charter outlines a mandatory roadmap for reform, focusing on restoring democratic norms, ensuring the rule of law, and addressing the deep-rooted structural weaknesses that have plagued the judiciary, election system, public administration, and anti-corruption institutions.
Parties signing the charter are expected to commit to implementing all institutional and legal reforms within the first two years of the next elected parliament.
Furthermore, the draft includes an endorsement declaration requiring political parties to recognize the July movement as a moral and historical mandate.
They must pledge to: honor the sacrifices of those killed in the 2024 uprising, reform state institutions through legal and policy measures, uphold democratic and constitutional integrity with binding legal safeguards and respect the historical and legal protections outlined in the document.
The charter also seeks to enshrine the spirit of the July movement in national memory by framing it as a foundational step toward building a just, inclusive, and accountable state.
In its closing section, the draft calls on all political stakeholders to work together to peacefully realize the aspirations of the people and to honor the movement`s martyrs through genuine reform.
As the dialogue progresses, political observers view this draft as a critical test of whether Bangladesh’s parties can unite around a shared vision for national renewal, rooted in the tragic but transformative events of July 2024.
